The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has offered its support for new legislation — S. 2862, the Regulatory Transparency, Patient Access, and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2014 — which calls for a collaborative, coordinated approach to curbing prescription drug abuse and safeguarding patients.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted a statement urging transparency, collaboration and prioritization in working with pharmacy and other healthcare stakeholders to help protect patient access and fight prescription drug abuse and diversion.

Acura Pharmaceuticals last week announced that it has been awarded a $300,000 grant by the National Institute On Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health to fund Phase I development of Acura's new, early stage Limitx abuse deterrent technology.

Rx Safes, manufacturer of fingerprint recognition home prescription lockboxes, on Thursday announced that it is waging a new war on drugs to reduce prescription drug abuse, backed by a national media campaign.

Prescription and over-the-counter products are often the first remedy consumers turn to when seeking relief from such conditions as allergies and heartburn, according to IRI. In its latest report, "Best Practices for Rx-to-OTC Product Launches," the company offers some tactics to help drive success for companies looking to execute the category switch.

In celebration of Mother's Day, Met-Rx on Thursday announced that its championship bodybuilding athletes will team up with moms in the Met-Rx Cares program's first charitable food distribution event to benefit needy families from the central Jamaica area of Queens here.

A report released yesterday by the Bipartisan Policy Center, entitled “A Bipartisan Rx for Patient-Centered Care and System-Wide Cost Containment,” contains a smart, forward-looking and no-cost recommendation that could save the government billions, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said.

Smart device usage has become an active part of in-store shopping. According to a recent poll of Accent-Health smart device owners, nearly 3-out-of-5 have used their phone or tablet to aid in product selection while shopping in-store.

Smart Insurance on Wednesday announced it is working with Walgreens to offer in-store consultations with licensed SmartD Rx plan agents, available at select Walgreens to speak with Medicare beneficiaries who are either enrolling in a new Part D prescription drug plan or evaluating their current coverage options.

Rx Response, an initiative of America’s biopharmaceutical supply system to help ensure the continued flow of medicine to patients in a severe public health emergency, moved to its highest alert status last week as Hurricane Isaac made landfall in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast.

American Associated Pharmacies announced that it has partnered with RxAlly, an alliance that includes more than 20,000 pharmacies nationwide that seeks to improve health and reduce costs for pharmacy patients.

Over the past year, store-brand sales of over-the-counter products have helped maintain a slight growth through the sector, and with the number of proposed prescription-to-OTC switches on the horizon, the future looks especially bright, Joe Papa, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO, told attendees of the 30th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held Monday.

Catalyst Rx, the pharmacy benefits management subsidiary of Catalyst Health Solutions, on Friday took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal touting the value of a Walgreens pharmacy to a large healthcare payer. Catalyst also released a case study touting that value, according to a DrugChannels.net report.

NEW YORK — The leading maker of home prescription lockboxes has unveiled a high-tech security device that brings cutting-edge fingerprint recognition technology to consumers.

The Rx DrugSafe Medicine Lockbox, unveiled by Rx Safes, provides home security by only allowing access to parents, guardians or other authorized users, the company said. Each safe can recognize up to 120 users through their fingerprints, and can store up to 12 medication bottles.

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SPECIAL REPORTS

Pharmacy’s battle for recognition continues

Fifty years ago this summer, President Lyndon B. Johnson secured his place in history by signing into law the legislation that created Medicare and Medicaid. To commemorate the anniversary, Drug Store News has put together an exclusive report on the effect that Medicare and Medicaid have had on the retail pharmacy industry and how it has transformed the role of the pharmacist. more...

IN THIS ISSUE

In this issue, DSN profiles Rite Aid and how the company is achieving a vision to become a retail healthcare company that delivers a higher level of care to its communities; takes you on a tour of Sears; offers insight into millennial shoppers and more. Click here to view the issue.